The success story of Gate City football is based around ball control and fundamentals.  The Blue Devils lost control early Saturday at Salem Stadium, and the result was not pretty.  Unbeaten Gretna took advantage of eight turnovers en route to a 52-0 victory in the Group A, Division 2 state championship.

Buffalo Gap junior running back Pickle Nuckols pushed his way into the end zone, and Clintwood’s hopes were gone. Shoulders sagged. Helmets hung low. The Greenwave would have to wait another year before they could try and lay claim to their first state championship since 1978.  Nuckols was a monster, racking up 217 yards and a TD on 32 carries, and he led Buffalo Gap to a 28-19 win over Clintwood in the VHSL Group A, Division 1 state championship game on Saturday afternoon at Salem Stadium before an estimated crowd of 7,000.